A Travel Price Comparison for China Dali vs. Chongqing for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Dali or Chongqing?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Dali and Chongqing can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Dali or Chongqing?

Dali

Dali is a city in southern China with a long and glorious history dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The Xiaguan neighborhood of the city is the modern industrial center where most public transportation arrives; however, the Old Town of Dali is the place that draws the most visitors. Being one of China's ancient cities, Dali is said to have been a gateway to the Silk Road, and still attracts attention with its traditional architecture, beautiful scenery, ethnic cultures, and nightlife.

Chongqing

Chongqing, China is a large city in central China and one of only four cities in the country that are not part of a province. While Chongqing is famous for being an economically important city, brush away its industrial surface and you'll find a naturally beautiful city with plenty of hidden wonders. Although you'll find many expats in the city, English is rarely spoken, meaning knowing some basic Mandarin will come in handy.

Which city is cheaper, Chongqing or Dali?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Dali is $41, while the average daily cost in Chongqing is $74. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Dali and Chongqing in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dali $14
    Chongqing $42
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dali $28
    Chongqing $84
Compare Hotels in Dali and Chongqing

Looking for a hotel in Dali or Chongqing? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Dali


Hotels in Chongqing


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Dali Hotel Prices and Chongqing Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dali $7.86
    Chongqing $16
Typical Local Transportation prices in Dali

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dali:


  • Local Bus
    $0.44

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dali

Also for Dali, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Dali Airport Chauffeur Service,Dali Airport Transfer: $40
  • Private One Way Transfer to Lijiang from Dali: $96
  • Private Round-Trip Transfer Service to Shaxi Ancient Town from Dali: $88
  • Private Transfer from Dali to Lijiang/Shuhe hotel: $140
  • Private Transfer from Dali to Lijiang/Shuhe hotel and Stops at Shaxi Old Town: $150

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chongqing

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chongqing:

  • Three Gorges Cruises with Transfer in Chongqing and Yichang: $466
  • Private airport transfer to or from Chongqing International Airport max 5: $18
  • Private airport transfer to or from Chongqing International Airport max 5: $14
  • Private Transfer: Chongqing Jiangbei Airport (CKG) to Chaotianmen Cruise Pier: $43
  • Private Transfer: Chongqing Chaotianmen Cruise Pier to Airport (CKG): $43
  • Private Transfer from Chongqing hotel to Chongqing Train Station: $25
  • Private Transfer from Chongqing Railway Station to City Hotel: $40
  • Private Round-Trip Transfer: Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport(CKG): $44
  • Private One Way Transfer (English Service) between Airport & Hotel & Cruise Port: $57
  • Private Departure Transfer:Hotel to Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport CKG: $22
  • Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chongqing Jiangbei Airport (CKG): $22
  • Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chongqing Chaotianmen Cruise Pier: $39

Is it cheaper to fly into Dali or Chongqing?

Prices for flights to both Chongqing and Dali change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Dali $15
    Chongqing $21
Typical Food prices in Dali

For Dali, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Lunch
    $4.72
  • Breakfast
    $3.69

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dali

For Dali, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • 1-Day Dali Baba Cooking and Cruise Tour: $150

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chongqing

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chongqing.

  • Chongqing Liangjiang Night Cruise Including Authentic Hot Pot Dinner: $86
  • Chongqing City private night tour with Hot Pot dinner: $148
  • Chongqing Port Transfer Service with Half-Day Tour and Hot Pot Dinner: $193
  • From Port Transfer with Half Day Tour and Hot Pot Dinner: $197
  • 250 USD Per Group Private Chongqing Night Tour with Hot-pot Dinner: $213

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dali $15
    Chongqing $11

Tours and Activities in Dali

For Dali, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Half-Day Shangri-La Thangka Tour: $88
  • 1-Day Erhai Sightseeing in Dali: $129
  • One day tour to Rehai Hot Sea and Heshun Old Town in Tengchong: $149
  • 1-Day Dali Mountain and Cuisine Tour: $150
  • 1-Day Electric Bike Tour in Dali: $160
  • 1-Day Tie Dye Experience Tour in Dali: $160
  • Private Tour: Explore the Ancient City of Dali: $171
  • Private Day Tour of Dali Explore the Ancient City: $171
  • Private hiking and trekking tour to Cangshan Mountain from Dali: $175
  • Private tour to Xizhou old town local market Erhai lake three Pagodas from Dali: $184
  • Dali Private Tour to Xizhou Ancient Town and Erhai Lake: $186
  • 1-Day Dali tour with the Daili old town, Xizhou Village and Three Pagodas: $195

Tours and Activities in Chongqing

Here are a few actual costs in Chongqing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 1 Day Private Tour of Chongqing Highlights Including lunch and Optional Photo in Sichuan Opera Costume: $114
  • 1 Day Private Tour of Most Beautiful Heishan Valley in Chongqing Including Lunch: $166
  • 1 Day Private Tour of Wulong Stone Bridges and Canyon in Chongqing Including Lunch: $195
  • 1-Day Chongqing City Private Tour with the Hot pot Lunch: $150
  • 1-Day Chongqing Dazu Rock Carvings Private Tour With the Lunch: $230
  • 1-Day Private Tour: Wulong Tiankeng Three Bridges and Fairy Mountain: $366
  • 199 USD Per Group Private Chongqing City Hiking Tour: $199
  • 2-Day Private Customized Harbin Tour from Chongqing by Air: $958
  • 2-Day Private Lijiang Highlights Tour from Chongqing by Plane: $798
  • 2-Day Private Tour from Chongqing with Hotel:Shaolin Temple and Longmen Grottoes: $798
  • 2-Days Chongqing City Highlights Sightseeing Private Tour: $398
  • 2-Days Private Tour of Chengdu City Highlights from Chongqing by Bullet Train: $428

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dali $9.44
    Chongqing $5.90

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dali and Chongqing, we can see that Chongqing is more expensive. And not only is Dali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Dali would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Dali and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Chongqing would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Chongqing than you might in Dali.

Related Articles for Chongqing
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Dali vs. Chongqing Travel Comparison

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